Attending a two-hour concert for a band when you only know one of their songs could be a letdown. However, if that band is Houndmouth, you won’t be disappointed. The American alternative rock band played a nineteen-song set at Northampton’s own Academy of Music on April 27, 2023. Though the theater only holds 800 concertgoers, Houndmouth brought the audience to their feet, and me to their Spotify “This Is Houndmouth” page.
Houndmouth formed in 2011 in New Albany, Indiana, with members Matt Myers (guitar, vocals), Caleb Hickman (keyboard, vocals), Zak Appleby (bass, vocals), and Shane Cody (drums, vocals). Over a decade later, the band has four studio albums: From the Hills Below the City (2013), Little Neon Limelight (2015), Golden Age (2018), and Good For You (2021). They stopped in Northampton last week on their Chartreuse and Chandeliers Tour.
Oliver Hazard, a band from Waterville, Ohio—a town with around 6,000 residents—opened the show. The band’s performance embodied that small-town folksy feel. The lead singer, Michael Belazis, fondly described the Academy of Music crowd as “small but mighty.” The three-piece set band played eleven songs, including “Caesar Knows” and “Grenadine.” They closed out the set with their most popular song, “Dandelion,” and by this point the crowd was eager for the headliners to start.
As Houndmouth took to the stage, the audience’s anticipation heightened. The band started the set with “Las Vegas” and “Make It To Midnight,” both songs from Good For You, their latest album. Throughout the night, they worked through their discography, including hits such as “McKenzie” and “Palmyra.” They closed the main set with “Darlin” from Little Neon Limelight.
But Houndmouth was not done yet. They returned to the stage with the four-song encore. Finally, I would hear the one song I knew prior to walking into the venue. One of my classic late-night driving tunes, and the band’s most popular songs, “Sedona” had the whole crowd singing along to this ode to the “gone but not forgotten” Sedona, Arizona. With the opener Oliver Hazard brought back out to sing backup, the concert hall was brought to life.
College students, middle-aged folks, and even some children sang, swayed, and danced until around 10:30 at night. The crowd is evidence of the band’s wide range of appeal and diverse fanbase. The harmonies between band members created new depth to old and new songs–enjoyable to old fans and new ones like myself.
The music filled every corner of the smaller venue. The band’s dynamic chemistry on stage was palpable making what might have been a risky evening based on my prior knowledge of their music, a night to remember.
Houndmouth continues touring until the fall. They play in cities such as Richmond, Denver, and St. Louis. The tour is closing at the Moon River Music Festival in September.
